Ice cream in hand, we strolled along the moonlit waterfront, hand in hand. I was now draped in Carter’s suit jacket, shyly licking my strawberry ice cream cone, brazenly aware that he watched my tongue sweep across it every single time.
“Truth or dare.” I uttered, casting him a glance out of the corner of my eye.
Under the moonlight, he glanced back at me, something unspoken humming between us. “Truth.”
My heart started pounding. “Why are you wearing my hair tie every time I see you?”
“I like it.” He said rather cryptically, looking down at the hair tie in question.
“Why?” I breathed, as his thumb grazed over the back of my hand.
“I just do.” His eyes settled on my mouth and then away, his hand warm and steady around mine as we walked side-by-side. “Your turn. Truth or dare.”
“Truth.”
“Why didn’t you tell your dad or Liam about your exhibition?”
“Carter.” I sighed, not wanting to get into the long list of reasons that I wasn’t sure I could even vocalize if I tried.
“Why?” He pressed gently, and I threw the rest of my ice cream cone in the trash can as we walked past it.
I shrugged. “I was scared, I guess.” I licked my hand where the ice cream had dripped. He nodded, eyes tracking the movement. “Truth or dare?” I quickly asked him before he pressed for more details I didn’t have.
“Truth.” He said with a low chuckle as the tension builtbetween us, and I wondered how many truths we’d divulge before one of us caved and pickeda dare.
I shook myself out of the lusty haze I was in. “Was the salted buttercream actually better than strawberry?” I asked smugly, referring to our vehement debate back at the ice cream shop.
He stopped again, facing me. “I’d say we should do a taste test, but somebody just threw away their cone.” He teased. “So I guess I can’t taste the strawberry now.” His eyes dropped to my lips again, and he swallowed hard as if he were considering getting a taste straight from the source.
“Too bad.” I breathed.
“I guess you’ll have to be the judge for the both of us.” He rasped and lifted his ice cream cone to my lips. “Though I think you’re probably a little biased, if we’re being honest here.”
“I promise to be as unbiased as humanly possible.” I looked up at him through my lashes and slowly licked his ice cream cone. As my tongue dragged across it, I watched his eyes turn feral.
I licked my lips, aware of every cell in my body. “Strawberry was definitely better.” And then I added, against my better judgment, “It’s too bad you didn’t get to try it.”
Carter swallowed hard, and we stared at each other for the longest minute of my life.
“Ask me, it’s my turn.” I said, heart pounding in my ears.
Carter’s breath was coming in ragged sweeps as we stood hand in hand, silent except for the soft sound of water lapping against the pier. “Truth or dare?” He uttered.
“Dare.” My heart thundered. “I dare you to try the strawberry.”
“I’m supposed to dare you.” He rasped.
“I know.” I breathed exhilaration and panic simultaneously surging through me.
This was a mistake.
What the hell was I doing?
And then something in his gaze shifted, like a tether deepinside him had suddenly snapped. “I suppose I can make an exception.” Carter said, closing in. “Just this once.”
“You will?” I squeaked as he slowly backed me underneath a shadowy tree, gasping when my back hit the smooth bark behind me quicker than I’d anticipated.
Carter licked his lips, and I gasped again when he slipped his hand under the jacket I was wearing and slid that hand over my stomach and around my waist. His thumb dragged over my silken hip, slow enough to make me combust.
